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Holtspur Bottom, Buckinghamshire

This chalk grassland, recreated after arable cultivation, has successfully become home to uncommon butterflies and moths.

Features

This valley-bottom chalk grassland was almost entirely lost to arable cultivation.

The re-sown sward is becoming a flowery haven for insects and birds again and has been colonised by Small Blue and other key species.

Area: 4.5 hectares

Visitor Information

To find out about the butterflies you can see at different times of the year, walking routes around the reserve and other useful information, please visit the Upper Thames Branch Holtspur Bottom reserve page.

Notable nearby sites

The Holtspur Valley North Local Nature Reserve (LNR) lies close-by, just along Riding Lane.

Directions

The reserve entrance lies down Riding Lane, which leads off Holtspur Top Lane on the west side of Beaconsfield. Parking on the lane side is very limited. It is best to walk down the footpath along the northern side of the LNR to reach Riding Lane.

Site access and safety

The reserve is easily accessible from Riding Lane - the ground is mostly level and largely firm, except along the initial section from the entrance gate which runs under trees.

There are no footpaths crossing the grazed meadows and access is allowed on a permissive basis only.

Dogs must be on leads whenever sheep are grazing, and from 1 March to 31 July to protect nesting birds.

Most ticks are little more than an irritation, but a few can transmit Lyme disease, a rare and potentially serious illness which is treatable with antibiotics if diagnosed early. It is therefore important to be informed and take some simple precautions.